Multiple-key lock mechanism

ABSTRACT

A fuel delivery pump with an accounting system having a multiple-key lock usable by each of a plurality of keys assignable to authorized operators for unlocking the pump for delivering fuel and a printer for printing the amount of each fuel delivery along with the identification of the key employed for unlocking the pump.

United States Patent [1 1 Smilgys Nov. 20, 1973 [54] MULTIPLE-KEY LOCKMECHANISM 797,598 8/1905 Ohmer 346/52 1,206,507 11/1916 Bradley 346/54 X[75] Inventor- Brun Smllgys, Hartford Conn- 2,977,045 3/1961 Pandozy346/54 x [73] Assignee: Veeder Industries Inc., Hartford, 3302311 1967346/53 ComL 3,385,086 5/1968 Patrlqum 346/54 X 3,529,455 9/1970 Hartzell346/54 X [22] Filed: May 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No; 145,193 PrimaryExaminerJoseph W. Hartary Att0rneyPrutzman, Hayes, Kalb & Chilton [52]US. Cl 346/54, 70/433, 231243403, [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl, ..G01dB67d/5/24 A fuel i y p p wi h an un ing system hav- [58] Field ofSearch; ..346/43, 52, 53, 54; g a p y lock usable y each of a pluralityof 70/433, 434 keys assignable to authorized operators for unlocking thepump for delivering fuel and a printer for printing [56] References Citd the amount of each fuel delivery along with the identi- UNITED STATESPATENTS fication of the key employed for unlocking the pump. 3,569,9813/1971 Hampton et a1. 346/53 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED V3.774.227

FIG]

INVENTOR BRUNO S. SMILGYS ATTORNEYS MULTIPLE-KEY LOCK MECHANISM BRIEFSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to amultiplekey lock mechanism operable by each of a plurality of keys, oneat a time, for unlocking associated apparatus and having anidentification register for identifying the key used for unlocking theapparatus.

It is a primary aim of the present invention to provide a new andimproved multiple-key lock mechanism for fluid delivery apparatusoperable by each of a plurality of keys assignable to authorizedoperators for unlocking the fluid delivery apparatus for deliveringfluid and operablefor registering the usage of the fluid deliveryapparatus by each of the authorized operators.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improvedfluid delivery apparatus accounting system having a multiple-key lockmechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the fluid deliveryapparatus for delivering fluid and operable to provide a printout of theamount of each fluid delivery along with the identification of the keyemployed for unlocking the apparatus for delivering fluid.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new andimproved multiple-key lock mechanism of the type having a keyidentification register.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improvedmultiple-key lock mechanism hav- 7 ing a cylinder type lock and a keyidentification register operable to register the identification of thekey used to operate the lock.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawing of anillustrative application of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevation view, partly broken away and partlyin section, of a fuel dispensing pump employing a multiple-key lockaccounting system incorporating an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view ofa multiplekey lock mechanism ofthe accounting system;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear end view, partly broken away and partly insection, of the multiple-key lock mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation view, partly in section, of an interlockmechanism of the accounting system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing indetail wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the severalfigures, a multiple-key lock accounting system 6 incorporating anembodiment of the present invention is shown employed in a fueldispensing pump 8 for accounting for the amount of fuel delivered toeach of a plurality of authorized parties.,ln a conventional manner thefuel pump 8 incorporates a delivery pump 10 driven by a motor 12 forsupplying fuel via a meter 14 and a shutoff valve 16 to a fueldispensing nozzle 18. The fuel pump 8 is also shown incorporating aresettable register 20 having a visual volume counter 22 and a visual.cost counter 24 for providing visual registra-' tions of the volume andcost amounts of fuel delivered. The output shaft 26 of the meter 14 isrotated in proportion to the volume of fuel dispensed and drives thevolume counter 22 and cost counter 24 of the register 20. A variator 28connected between the meter 14 and cost counter 24 is employed in aknown manner for adjustably selecting the price per unit volume of fluiddispensed. The register 20 may for example be of the type shown anddescribed in H. N. Bliss US. Pat. No. 2,932,448 dated Apr. I2, 1960 andentitled Resetting Mechanism for Counters" and have a suitable resetmechanism operable prior to the commencement of each fluid delivery forresetting the volume and cost counters 22, 24 to zero.

The fuel nozzle 18 is shown provided in a conventional manner with astorage receptacle 30 for storing the nozzle between fuel deliveries. Amanual control handle or lever 32 is shown mounted adjacent the storagereceptacle 30 such that the control handle 32 has to be manuallyrotated, clockwise as seen from the right in FIG. 1, to its OFF orvertical position to permit the nozzle to be replaced in its storagereceptacle and such that the nozzle has to be removed from its storagereceptacle to permit the control handle 32 to be pivoted, approximately90 in the opposite direction, to its ON or horizontal position. Thecontrol handle 32 is connected via a control shaft 34 to the register 20and such that when the control lever 32 is pivoted to its ON positionthe fuel pump 8 is activated for delivering fuel by energizing the motor12 and opening the valve 16. When the control handle 32 is pivoted toits OFF or vertical position the motor 12 is de-energized and the valve16 is closed to deactivate the fuel pump 8 for delivering fuel.

The multiple-key lock accounting system 6 is provided for accounting foreach fuel delivery to each of a number of accountable parties. Thesystem 6 comprises a printer 52 and a multiple-key lock 54 (forming apart of a multiple-key lock mechanism 56) which provides for selectivelylocking and unlocking the pump 8 for delivering fuel. The multiple-keylock mechanism 56 incorporates a key identification register 57 (with aplurality of print wheels 58-64 of ascending order) providing a keyidentification section of the printer 52. The printer 52 alsoincorporates a fuel delivery section 66 provided by a printing counter68 (having a plurality of printing counter wheels 70-73 of ascendingorder) for printing the amount of fuel delivered. In the shownembodiment the printing counter 68 is connected to be driven with thevolume counter 22 to continuously accumulate the volume amount of fueldelivered. Alternatively the printing counter 68 could be connected toaccumulate the cost amount of fuel delivered (or an additional printingcounter (not shown) could be provided for that purpose). The printingcounter 68 is preferably resettable and automatically reset (with thevolume counter 22) just prior to the commencement of each fuel deliveryand just prior to conditioning the fuel pump 8 for delivering fuel. Ifthe printing counter 68 were nonresettable, the amount of any specificdelivery could, of course, be obtained by determining the differencebetween the accumulated counts before and after the delivery.

The printer 52 has a suitable printing mechanism 76 (showndiagrammatically in FIG. 1) which is operable to provide a printout ofthe registration of the fuel delivery print wheels 70-73 and the keyidentification print wheels 58-64 along a readout line or station 78.The printing mechanism 76 is suitably connected to the pump controlshaft 34 to provide a printout before and- /or after the completion ofeach fuel delivery when the control handle 32 is pivoted to its ONand/or OFF position. For example, if the printing counter 68 is resetbetween deliveries, it is sufficient to provide a single printout afterthe completion of each delivery (and before the printing counter 68 isreset). Alternatively if the printing counter 68 is nonresettable it maybe desirable to provide a printout both before and after each delivery(for. determining the amount of each delivery as for example where aticket is issued to the pump operator showing the printouts) orjustbefore orjust after each delivery (where for example the printouts areretained for in-house purposes). Thus, for example, successive printoutsmay be made on a continuous strip of paper which is retained within thepump 8 and subsequently removed for recording the amount of each fueldelivery to each of the authorized users.

The multiple-key lock 54 is a cylinder lock having in a conventionalmanner a lock housing 79, a cylindrical plug 80 rotatably mounted in thelock housing (for rotation in opposite directions between a first normalor locked position and a second unlocked position) and having a suitableslot 81 for receiving an operative key 74, and a security section 82with tumbler pins (not shown) for locking the plug 80 in its normal orlocked position shown in FIG. 3. The lock 54 (which may be substantiallylike the lock disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,385,086 of 6.1. Partriquindated May 28, 1968 and entitled Key Operated Switch Mechanism) alsocomprises a plurality of independently operable print wheel operators 84for the print wheels 58-64 respectively and selectively operable by theinserted key in accordance with the design of the key. The lock 54 isselectively operable by each of a number of keys for selectivelyrotating the print wheel operators 84 with the lock plug 80 as the plugis rotated from its normal or locked position to its unlocked position.As more fully described in the aforementioned US. Pat. No.

3,385,086 the operators 84 are normally locked to the housing 79 byouter tumbler pins 88 but may be selectively locked to the plug 80 byinner tumbler pins or actuators 89 when a key is inserted (and dependentupon the design of the key) whereupon such operators 84 are rotated whenthe plug 80 is rotated with the key.

Referring to FIG. 4 a suitable interlock member 90 is fixed to the innerend of the plug 80, and a cooperating interlock member 92 is fixed tothe pump control shaft 34 for interlocking the operation of the lock andcontrol handle 32. More particularly the control handle 32 is free to bepivoted to its ON or horizontal position only after the lock plug 80 hasbeen rotated (approximately 45) from its normal or locked position toits unlocked position. Also, the lock plug 80 is free to be rotated backto its locked position only after the control handle 32 has beenreturned to its OFF or vertical position. Accordingly the control handle32 cannot be pivoted to its ON position to condition the pump fordelivering fuel until an operative key is used for rotating the plug 80to its unlocked position, and the plug 80 cannot be rotated to relockthe pump until after the control handle 32 is returned to its verticalor OFF position. Also the lock 54 is preferably designed such that anoperative key cannot be removed from or inserted into the keyway withthe lock plug in other than its locked position.

Each print wheel operator 84 is interlocked with a corresponding printwheel 58-64 to position the print wheel in each of two operativepositions of the print wheel. A leaf spring detent arm 96 is alsoprovided for each print wheel 58-64 for accurately positioning the printwheel in each of its two operative po'sitions. Thus, with the wheeloperator 84 in its normal or locked position the corresponding printwheel 58-64 is held in a first or normal position and when the wheeloperator 84 is rotated with the plug 80 (when the plug is rotated tocondition the pump for delivering fuel) the corresponding print wheel58-64 is rotated to a second extended position.

The print wheels 58-64 preferably have numerical printing indicia ortype of the numbers 1 through 7 respectively and with only a single typeelement on each print wheel positioned to provide a printout at theprintout or readout station 78 when the print wheel is in its extendedposition. Thus with the lock 54 in its locked condition all of the printwheels have blank areas at the printout station 78 and with a sevenwheel key identification printer the following separate numericalprintouts or key identifications are available l-7,12-17, 23-27, 34-37,45-47, 56, 57, 67,123-127, 134-137, -147, 156, 157, 167, 234-237,245-247, 256, 257, 267, 345-347, 356, 357, 367, 456, 457, 467, 567,1234-1237, 1245-1247, 1256, 1257, 1267, 1345-1347, 1356, 1357, 1367,1456, 1457, 1467, 1567, 2345-2347, 2356, 2357, 2367, 2456, 2457, 2467,2567, 3456, 3457, 3467, 3567, 4567, 12345-12347, 12356, 12357, 12367,12456, 12457, 12467, 12567, 13456, 13457, 13467, 13567, 14567, 23456,23457, 23467, 23567, 24567, 34567, 123456, 1234567, 123467, 123567,124567, 134567, 234567, 1234567 a total of 127 key identificationshaving between one and seven digits inclusive. Thus, it can be seen that127 different key identification numbers can be provided with a sevenprint wheel mechanism although the identification numbers do not followa constant pattern and the spacing between the numerals of the multipledigit identification number is uneven.

Each print wheel 58-64 may, if desired, also have a 0" printing type toprovide a 0" printout when the print wheel is in its first or normalposition, in which event all of the identification numbers would beseven place numbers beginning with the number 1,000,000 and the digitspacing would remain constant. Also, other symbols such as the lettersof the alphabet could be used and different symbols could be used withdifferent pumps to provide for distinguishing the records between two ormore pumps.

The multiple-key lock 54 may if desired be of the type wherein thecylindrical plug 80 is rotatable in either direction from its firstnormal or locked position dependent upon the design of the key used.With such a lock the number of available key identifications would bedoubled (to 254 with seven print wheels) by providing (a) each printwheel with different type elements rotatable to the readout station 78when the plug 80 is rotated in opposite directions respectively from itsnormal or locked position (and such that entirely different keyidentifications are provided by rotating the plug in each direction),(b) two sets of keys, each set being operable for rotating the plug inone direction only, (c) provision for rotating each print wheel in bothdirections and detenting the wheel in both extended positions, and (d)modification of the interlock member 90 for unlocking the control handle32 by rotation of the lock plug 80 in either direction from its lockedposition.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, variousmodifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specificdisclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of thepresent invention.

1 claim:

1. In an apparatus usable by a plurality of operators and comprising aprinting mechanism operable for providing a printout of the usage of theapparatus and a mechanical multiple-key lock mechanism having a housing,a plug, with a keyway for receiving an operative key, rotatably mountedin the housing for rotation between a first looked angular position anda second unlocked angular position for unlocking the apparatus for use,and a plurality of operative keys assignable to different operatorsrespectively and usable in the keyway, one at a time, for rotating theplug for unlocking the apparatus for use, the improvement wherein theprinting mechanism comprises a plurality of two position print elementsmounted for being independently shifted substantially the same amountback and forth between first and second operative limit positionsthereof, each print element bearing printing indicia operable to providea printout at a printout station with the print element in at least oneof its said operative limit positions and the plurality of printelements having printing indicia operable to provide differentcollective printouts at the printout station with different combinationsof the printing elements in their first and second positions, andwherein the mechanical multiplekey lock mechanism comprises a pluralityof mechanical print element actuators for the plurality of printelements respectively rotatably mounted on the plug for selectiverotation by the plug as the plug is rotated between its first and secondpositions, and locking means for each actuator for locking the actuatorin a first position thereof and adapted to be selectively operated by akey upon insertion of the key into the keyway in accordance with thedesign of the key for unlocking the actuator in its first position andfor locking the actuator to the plug for being rotated thereby, eachactuator being mechanically interlocked with its respective printelement to maintain the print element in its first position with theactuator in its first locked position and to positively shift the printelement to its second position as the actuator is rotated by the plugsuch that the inserted key provides for selectively positively shiftingthe print elements from their first to their second positions as theplug is rotated with the key from its first position to its secondposition for unlocking the apparatus for use and for therebyestablishing a collective printout at the printout station identifyingthe key used for unlocking the apparatus for use, the plurality ofoperative keys being designed to provide upon individual insertion ofthe keys into the keyway for operating different combinations of theactuator locking means respectively for establishing different keyidentifications, and the printing mechanism being operable for printingthe collective printout of the print elements at the printout stationalong with the usage printout for providing an operator identificationof the use of the apparatus.

2. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the print elements beardifferent numerical printing indicia for respectively providingdifferent numerical printouts at said printout station in said onepositions thereof.

3. In an apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said printout elementbears numerical printout indicia for providing a numerical printout atthe printout station in only its said one position.

4. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each printout elementbears printout indicia for providing a printout at the printout stationin only its said one position.

1. In an apparatus usable by a plurality of operators and comprising aprinting mechanism operable for providing a printout of the usage of theapparatus and a mechanical multiple-key lock mechanism having a housing,a plug, with a keyway for receiving an operative key, rotatably mountedin the housing for rotation between a first locked angular position anda second unlocked angular position for unlocking the apparatus for use,and a plurality of operative keys assignable to different operatorsrespectively and usable in the keyway, one at a time, for rotating theplug for unlocking the apparatus for use, the improvement wherein theprinting mechanism compRises a plurality of two position print elementsmounted for being independently shifted substantially the same amountback and forth between first and second operative limit positionsthereof, each print element bearing printing indicia operable to providea printout at a printout station with the print element in at least oneof its said operative limit positions and the plurality of printelements having printing indicia operable to provide differentcollective printouts at the printout station with different combinationsof the printing elements in their first and second positions, andwherein the mechanical multiple-key lock mechanism comprises a pluralityof mechanical print element actuators for the plurality of printelements respectively rotatably mounted on the plug for selectiverotation by the plug as the plug is rotated between its first and secondpositions, and locking means for each actuator for locking the actuatorin a first position thereof and adapted to be selectively operated by akey upon insertion of the key into the keyway in accordance with thedesign of the key for unlocking the actuator in its first position andfor locking the actuator to the plug for being rotated thereby, eachactuator being mechanically interlocked with its respective printelement to maintain the print element in its first position with theactuator in its first locked position and to positively shift the printelement to its second position as the actuator is rotated by the plugsuch that the inserted key provides for selectively positively shiftingthe print elements from their first to their second positions as theplug is rotated with the key from its first position to its secondposition for unlocking the apparatus for use and for therebyestablishing a collective printout at the printout station identifyingthe key used for unlocking the apparatus for use, the plurality ofoperative keys being designed to provide upon individual insertion ofthe keys into the keyway for operating different combinations of theactuator locking means respectively for establishing different keyidentifications, and the printing mechanism being operable for printingthe collective printout of the print elements at the printout stationalong with the usage printout for providing an operator identificationof the use of the apparatus.
 2. In an apparatus according to claim 1wherein the print elements bear different numerical printing indicia forrespectively providing different numerical printouts at said printoutstation in said one positions thereof.
 3. In an apparatus according toclaim 2 wherein said printout element bears numerical printout indiciafor providing a numerical printout at the printout station in only itssaid one position.
 4. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein eachprintout element bears printout indicia for providing a printout at theprintout station in only its said one position.